[Updated]
With everything going in his favor and playing in the biggest game of his life, Indiana Pacers’ center Roy Hibbert did something that it is nearly impossible for a 7’2” big man to do: he disappeared.
With everything going in his favor and playing in the biggest game of his life, Indiana Pacers’ center Roy Hibbert did something that it is nearly impossible for a 7’2” big man to do: he disappeared.
The Pacers couldn’t have asked for a better script. They blew past the Orlando Magic who were without their best player, Dwight Howard but their reward was a meeting with the second-seeded Miami Heat.
The Pacers were able to take advantage of Howard's absence but fate wasn't done helping them out. During the first game of the Pacers' series versus the Heat, Miami would lose one of its best players to injury.
And it seemed as if
the Pacers were set to once again take advantage of their good fortune. After
losing Game 1, the Pacers stormed out to a 2-1 lead.
While containing LeBron James and Dwyane Wade is no easy
task, the Heat had no answer for the Pacers’ inside duo of Hibbert and David
West. But everyone knows how great James and Wade are so the Pacers knew they
wouldn’t go down easily.
Which led to James’ historic Game 4 performance. James had
his greatest performance as a pro while simultaneously getting Wade involved.
James and Wade then crushed the Pacers in Miami to give the
Heat a 3-2 lead and put the Pacers on the brink of elimination as the series
headed back to Indiana.
Game 6 provided an even greater opportunity for Hibbert to
shine with the Heat losing its best remaining big man to suspension. Undonis
Haslem would be suspended for that game because of his flagrant foul against
Tyler Hansbrough in the Heat’s Game 5 blowout of the Pacers.
And that should have set the stage for Hibbert to show the
world just why he earned his first All-Star selection.
As skilled as Hibbert is he should have had no problem
manhandling the Heat’s remaining frontcourt players but how did he respond? Hibbert
came up small contributing only 12 points and eight rebounds as his team’s
season was ended on its home court.
So what now? Hibbert
still had a great season but a loss like this one has to make him hungrier to
improve and show people that his All-Star selection wasn’t a mistake.
And as the league’s tallest starting center, Hibbert will
have to show in the future that he can live up to his lofty stature. Either
that or risk being just another face in the crowd which in the NBA, is just as
easy as it sounds.
Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Blogger for The Sport Mentalist and an NBA Blogger for The Sport Mentalist 2. He is also a Sports Reporter for Pro Sports Lives. He can be contacted at sportmentalist@yahoo.com and be sure to follow him on Twitter @sportmentalist.
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